Artificial hearing aid



March 1955 K. o. TOOKER ARTIFICIAL HEARING AID Filed Aug 30' 951 'Il/IIIIIJ I u I n 1 INVENTOR A nmy .75 M/M gm WIMNEX.

United States Patent ARTIFICIAL HEARING AID Kenneth 0. Tucker, Pittsburgh, Pa. Application August 30, 1951, Serial No. 244,327 3' Claims. (Cl. 181-23 This invention relates to artificial hearing aids and, more particularly, to improvements which increase the life and improve the operation of certain attachments which are connected to the ear of the person using the apparatus.

More specifically, this invention is concerned with artificial hearing aids of the type in which a transparent plastic mold is inserted in the wearers ear. This car mold has an entry portion which is inserted in the auditory canal of the wearers ear and a mounting portion which is engaged with the helix of the ear to secure it in position. The entry portion receivable in the auditory canal is provided with a drilled opening which has its inner end terminating adjacent the ear drum or auditory nerve and a flexible tube of transparent plastic permanently connected with the outer end thereof. The flexible tube is hooked over the upper edge of the ear so as to form of its drilled opening. This short section of tubing is a source of trouble in conventional apparatus, in that kinks or bends formed therein reduce the size of the opening or auditory canal extension provided by the tube. If the bends or kinks formed in the tube are sufiiciently sharp, the passageway in the tube will be completely shut off, and this will require replacement of the tube. Manipulation, even though carefully done, of the ear mold when it is inserted in the wearers ear, results in severe flexing and twisting of the tube section particularly at its point of connection thereto, and this enhances the possibility of forming damaging kinks in such tube section. This short section of tubing extends directly outwardly from the drilled opening and thereby forms a direct axial extension of the drilled opening and the auditory canal. This necessitates a sharp bend in the portion of the tube which extends upwardly and hooks over the wearers ear, and increases the likelihood of formation of damaging kinks or bends of a type which will close the opening in the tube and render the apparatus inoperative. Failure of the tube in this manner, as well as failure due to hardening and discoloration resulting from body contact, necessitates return of the ear mold to the maker for replacement of the flexible tube attached thereto.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to provide an improved connection of the flexible tube to the drilled opening in the ear mold which will eliminate the necessity of sharp bends in the flexible tubing and thereby reduce the possibility of kink formations which will render the tube inoperative. This improved connection comprises an L-shaped fitting at the outer end of the drilled opening in the ear mold which provides a connecting passage-way at a sharp or right angle to the drilled opening in the ear mold. Due to the fitting providing this L-shaped passage-way being constructed of relatively hard and rigid material, there is little pos sibility of damage to the auditory canal extension formed by its L-shape'd passage-way. The provision of the L- shaped passage-way further enables the flexible tubing connected thereto to be trained directly upwardly over the upper edge of the wearers car without any kinks or sharp bends therein, and thereby reducing the possibility of failure.

A further object is to provide a removable connection between the mold and tubing which will enable the drilled opening in the mold to be cleaned of wax.

Another object of this invention is to provide a removable connection for the flexible tubing at the point at which it joins with the drilled opening in the ear mold.

A further object of the invention is to provide a removable connection of the character referred to which has an L-shape with one arm of the connection being receivable in an enlarged opening formed at the outer end of the drilled opening, the enlarged opening and portion of the L-shaped fitting receivable therein having a taper of a character to be described.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description. In the drawings there is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention. In this showing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the improved connection of the flexible tube with the ear mold;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 taken from a different angle;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 1 showing the apparatus in position on a persons ear; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the ear mold and the detachable fitting connection.

In the drawings, the numeral 1 designates as a whole an ear mold which is insertable in the ear of a wearer in a manner to be described. The ear mold 1 is preferably molded from a hard and transparent plastic material which is sufliciently rigid to hold its shape in use. Suitable molding materials for this purpose are methyl methacrylate, polystyrene, cellulose acetate, vinyl acetate, or other suitable plastic materials having similar characteristics. The ear mold 1 is provided with a protruding portion 2 which is insertable or receivable in the auditory canal of the wearer. The protruding portion 2 has connected thereto a band 3 which is engageable in the helix of the ear and has a hook 4 receivable in the fossa of the anti-helix to maintain the mold 1 in position in the wearers ear.- In Fig. 3, the numeral 5 designates a human ear and shows the mold 1 therein in its mounted position. The part 2 has a drilled open ing 6 formed therein for connection with a flexible tube 7, which has a connector at its terminal 8 for connection to sound amplifying apparatus (not shown). The tube 7 conducts sound from the amplifying apparatus to the opening 6 and thereby to the car.

In accordance with the principles of this invention, the ear mold has an enlarged opening 9 formed at the outer end of the drilled opening 6. A flat area 9a is formed about the outer end of the opening 9 for a'purpose to be described. The opening 9 terminates in an annular ledge 9b spaced inwardly from the area 9a. The flexible tube 7, at the end thereof connectible to the ear mold 1, is provided with a rigid transparent plastic fitting 10 of L-shape having an arm 11 permanently connected to the end of the tube 7 as shown in Fig. 4, and an arm 12 for detachable engagement with the ear mold 1. The fitting 10 is molded of the same type of plastic material as the mold 1. The arms 11 and 12 have drilled openings at right angles to each other for connecting the tube 7 to. the drilled-opening; The arm 12 has an axial taper convergingdownwardly as..viewed, iniEigi.4,.and. the opening 9 has a similar taper diverging in'an upward direction away from the ledge 9b as viewed in Fig. 4. The taper: ofjthe arm: lfiiand thesopening.9fneedibe1only veryslight, forming an; angle withatheir axes-zin. thenature, of: aboutxl." to: 1 f;,.but isxessentialsin the:.provision of arr: airtight. seal; when: t'he:part 12 iswinserted in.the..o.pening..9.. When. the'part 12;isiv inserted" inthe: opening 9;, there isprovided anzairetight:sealbetweerr theouteL-surfa'ce of the. PBIILIZLQHdIthCiHHB-I surface of. the part 9,. and the passage-Way 13 inthefitting 10. will form an' extension; the; opening; 6: connecting it withv the flexible; tube-.7. The"v axiaietapers .of. the. parts-12. and 9 greatly facilitate the formation of an air-tight seal when. fitted together. In. addition, the. provision of: the flat 4 area-.1942 aboutrthei openingz9iprovides ax surface against which the ,underc'side of the: arm-11i may abut to limit movementof'the :part 122 into .thezope'ning. 9 and :thereby preventiits wedging' inzthe;opening: 95 so tightly thatit cannot-beeremoved: The.-arm.12ihas: an axial length substantially. the; same. as thezlength. of the opening 9, so that its outer. end will'engage with the: ledge 'Qll'W/Vhilfl fitted in positionin the 1opening9'.

By' reason of theishape'of. the-fitting 10, and its L- shape particularly, it will benoted that, referring to Figs. hand 3,.the end1portion 14.of.the-tube.7. extends directly upwardly from .the'earmoldl without any kinks or bends thereinso that its upperloop 15. maybe. hooked over the upper edgeof thewearers. ear as. shown in Fig. 3'withoutanwhooks.ora-sharp; bends in the tube 7.

Another desirable advantage.iszprovided'by the. fitting 10. in that the; tube; 7. may besreplaced by. the wearer in the event .of damage. thereto. without returning the mold to. the: maker as is; necessary' with present conventional constructions. A further-advantage. is provided-by the detachable fitting.in2that;.upon removal, wax may be cleaned from the drilled opening inthe eanmold.

Attention. iszialso directedtothe: fact; that the taper of the fitting. part.12 andtheopening; 9' enablesa friction gripzfor secming ;connectiontparts-. together, which moreoverprovides: an effective air seal: This-.airseal isolatesthe column :of. air in thew passage-way formed." byv the openings inxthetube 7, fitting lll, andthedriiled openingfiwhich, itiwi-ll be noted, aresiof: the-same size. Since theipassageewayv 13 through thenfitting 19 is the same sizeas the: opening; 6 ,nand since the: arm 12.1has. a length; about thewsameias thep length ofzthe opening. 1' the opening in .the;arm' 12. will .beuasmooth continuation of the. opening: 6,. therebyoffering a. minimum" of. disturbance to. thetransmission of sound through the opening 6;

' As apparent fronrtliedrawings;thezendzofitheitube7fis connected. to the fittinglfi'by, insertion in. the opening. 13. extending through the arm 11. Before insertion, the. endjof the;tube,:7 is softened by dippingairr a.;so1vent therefor, such as; liquid cellulose acetate: or other suit: able material, sothat itwill'adherea tightlyinthefitting after insertion.v f

WhileI have illustrated and-:describedxcertain specific; embodiments ofmy invention, it will be understood that this is merely by Way ofillustration; and thatvarious changes and modifications maybemade thereimwithin the; contemplation. of myinvention :and: under the scope of the followingclaims. I

Iclaimz. 1: In artificial hearingtapparatuswfahe typercomprising:

a molded plastic ear piece of integral 'constructionhaving an entry portion. for. insertionin. the. auditory. canaLof.

an ear and a mounting portion for mounting engagement in the helix of the ear and a sound conducting opening extending through said entry portion, and a flexible tube for conducting sound to said sound conducting opening, the invention which comprises a detachable friction conection between the ear piece and tube, said connection comprising a part in the form of a plug securedto the end Ofsaid tube-andapart integral with said ear piece having anopening enlarged with respect to and aligned with said sound conducting opening in which said plug. part is received, said pl-ug; part and ear piece part having surfaces frictionally engaged when said plug part is inserted'in said enlarged ear piece opening and providing a frictional-holding and airsealing connection between said parts and at least one of said surfaces having a'taper inza-directionaxially of said sound conducting .opening: to facilitateinsertion: of

the plug insaid enlarged openingzand;the formation of:

said connection;

2. In artificial hearing apparatus of the type comprising a molded plastic ear. piece offintegralconstruction having 8.11."- entry portion. for insertion: inthe" auditory. canal, of an ear and a mounting portionfor'mounting engagement in the helix of the ear'and aisoundiconduch ingopeningextending.througlrsaid entry'portion, and

afiexible tube for conducting sound. to'said: sound'con-- ducting opening,,the invention: whichcornprises a detachable. friction connection between-the: ear piece and tube, said-connection comprising a. partiofmolded. rigid plastic material in/the shapeoflan'; L. having one arm connectedwithsaid tube audits other arnrzinr the. form of a plug,saidrarms.respectively.having axially extendin-g openingsv which intersect a-ttheir point of connection to each other, and a: part integralwithsaid earpiece having an opening enlarged with respect. to andaligned' with said sound conducting.openinginzwhichsaid plug arm is received, said plug arm. and ear piece part hav ing surfacesfrictionally. engaged when said plugzarrmis inserted in said enlarged earz'pieceopening: andprovid- 1 ing a frictional-holding and airesealing. connection between said parts andat least one of saidJsurfaeeshaVing a taper in adirection axiallyoff said. sound conducting. openingto facilitate insertion of theplng arm in said enlarged opening andithe formation oftsaid connection 3. An apparatus as definediimclaim 2. characterized by said one arm and. earpiece part having: surfaces in abutting engagement when said plug arrrris' inserted in Saidenlarged. opening, and inzwhichsaid onearm. extends in an; upward dlICCtlOlLWiflI respecttto the ear in which said ear pieceais': inserted;

References Cited'in the file'eofthis patent: UNITED. STATES PATENTS 

